Safety Evaluation of Hyperbolic Arch Aqueduct Using Three-Dimensional Laser Scanning and Finite Element Analysis

The safety evaluation of the aqueduct in many years of operation is often performed to determine the structural operational behaviour so as to provide a scientific basis for further reinforcement or reconstruction. The missing of the original design data due to the long construction period provides great challenging in the structural safety evaluation of the aqueduct. Taking a hyperbolic arch aqueduct in China as an example, we first rebuilt the aqueduct model using the three-dimensional (3D) point cloud from the three-dimensional laser scanning technology. Coupled with the on-site safety inspection, the 3D finite element analysis was then performed to learn the stress performance of the aqueduct body and its supporting structures, so as to achieve the purpose of safety evaluation of aqueduct structure in a whole